System for clearing snow and ice from pavements and similar

ABSTRACT

A system for clearing snow, ice, or frost from pavement and similar surfaces. The system is located underground and combines at least one main pipe of gaseous steam flow network including multiple independent pipe branches with valve devices, spaced apart from one another, all of which converge at least one secondary pipe including a series of sprinklers having snow or ice detection sensors, as well as an automatic trigger device for triggering the sprinklers, so as to melt the snow or ice formation.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a national stage entry of PCT/EC2012/000019 filed Mar. 23, 2012, under the International Convention and claiming priority over Argentinean Patent Application No. 20110101121 filed Mar. 01, 2011.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention refers to a system for removing snow, ice, or frost from pavement and similar surfaces. The system is specifically conceived and accomplished to achieve, in a fast and efficient way, the dissipation of snow or ice accumulated over pavements, lanes, highways, roads, and motorways.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, and as it is known, climate change is getting more dynamic and one of the arising problems is the presence of snow, ice, or frost in different areas or places, particularly in urban centers.

The approached problem has led to thinking about a solution, by the development of a system, for removing snow, ice, or frost from pavement and similar surfaces for the purpose of significantly increasing the safety for people and reducing weather-related traffic situations.

It is known in the art the use of a system that throws salt by using a truck to remove snow and frost from the pavement. Unfortunately, this system not only implies the use of a vehicle to actually throw the salt, but it also requires at least a driver and a workman, therefore, an investment in labor is required.

Adding to these inconveniences, it has to be added the fact that the pavement deteriorates enormously with the salt, raising the maintenance cost of the roads, and also affecting the vehicles.

Another known technique of heating systems is by using infrared rays for the reduction or annulment of the frost on highways to warm up the pavement to defrost and melt the snow (See for example, ES 2 072 216 B1; ES 2 116 175 B1).

ES 2237257B1 discloses a snowplow truck including a road dryer that uses a scoop that takes off the snow in the front zone of the cabin. The reference also discloses an assembly of tubes, with an electric engine in its interior, that takes high-pressure air through an exit nozzle that faces the floor.

Another technique is the use of a device to compact and remove snow as is shown on U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,667 A.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Leading out of the present state and the previous art of the technique mentioned above, the main objective of this invention is based on a system for removing snow, ice, or frost from pavement and similar surfaces, providing a solution to the multiple inconveniences generated in the different cities of the world by the accumulation of snow or frost in the winter season. This leads to millions of losses of money, causing school and work closures, and also causing traffic accidents that result mainly with terrible casualties.

The goal of the invention is to improve the lifestyle of citizens through a low cost, by using resources that are already in use today.

The removal of snow, ice, or frost is done by melting, using the underground vapor pipes already being used by cities, such as New York, Berlin, and London.

In addition, the present invention may remove stagnation from bridges, tunnels, railroads, airports, highways, covered stadiums, parking lots, squares, and parks.

The system, according to the present invention, works with the underground vapor network system that the city already has. But, as another embodiment, the present invention may work with the boiler networks of houses, buildings, stores, and industries that are already in use for central heating or electricity. It can be turned into power to serve machines.

The way in which this and other objectives and advantages of the invention are reached will be explained in the description that follows. This will be an example, with the preferred accomplishments of the invention, and also with the pictures that follows, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1, shows a schematic view of the removal system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2, shows a schematic view of the system according to another embodiment of the present invention showing the cleaning and dewatering of a ramp for disabled people, which is really important to assure the mobility of all citizens and to avoid trials against the Government.

FIG. 3, shows a schematic view of the system according to another embodiment of the present invention showing a hose to which, optionally, an equipment could be plugged in to raise the vapor pressure, and gain time and distance of work.

FIG. 4, shows a schematic view of the system according to another embodiment of the present invention showing other ways to allocate the vapor for the melting of snow or frost by using double function grills, “melting and drainage”, and also by placing radiation panels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In all figures, the same reference numbers indicate similar or corresponding elements, which are:

1. Main piping network of circulation of vapor gas.

2. Independent piping branches.

3. Valves.

4. Secondary piping.

5. Sprinklers.

6. Sensors.

7. Cabinet with regulation means and vapor gas control.

8. Conduits.

9. Metal sheets.

10. Flexible conduit (hose).

11. Movable equipment.

C=Curb.

L=Municipal Line.

r=Anti-skid ramp.

n=Accumulated snow or ice.

A=Traffic access.

The system 1 works with the presence of snow or ice, in which the sensors 6 catch their presence and the sprinklers 5 are automatically activated, releasing a vapor gas fluid against the pavement, melting or removing the ice or snow formation.

The sizing and design of the system of the present invention and the mobile equipment may be changeable, depending on the geographical situation and on the cost-benefit-efficiency analysis that each particular case requires.

According to all the information exposed and illustrated above, it is easy to understand the practicality and advantages that this system for removing snow, ice, or frost from pavement and similar surfaces offers. The attached list of claims deals with the scope of the invention.

Having described and determined the nature of the invention, and the way in which it can be put into practice in its prime idea, it is declared an invention and an exclusive property, as follows: 

1-3. (canceled)
 4. A system to remove ice or snow from a pavement, the system adapted to be connected to a pre-existing underground main pipe network conducting a flow of vapor gas, the system comprising: a plurality of pipe branches having a first end and a second end, the first end of each pipe branch is operatively connected to the pre-existing underground main pipe, the pipe branches are spaced apart from each other; a valve connected to each one of the pipe branches; a secondary pipe operatively connected to the second end of each pipe branch at a corresponding connection point; a sprinkler operatively connected to each connection point; and a snow or ice sensor operatively connected to each sprinkler; the system is an underground system; the flow of vapor gas circulates from the pre-existing main pipe to the pipe branches, the secondary pipe, and then is released by the sprinklers into the pavement melting or removing the ice or snow formation.
 5. The system according to claim 4, further including a trigger device connected to each sprinkler, each trigger device automatically activates the corresponding sprinkler to release the flow of vapor gas.
 6. The system according to claim 4, further including a cabinet including a vapor gas flow control device, the vapor gas flow control device is operatively connected to one of the pipe branches by using underground conduits.
 7. The system according to claim 6, further including a hose connected to the vapor gas flow control device, the hose releases the vapor gas from the main pipe network upon activation by a user.
 8. The system according to claim 4, further including a radiation panel to the second end of each branch pipe. 